Summary

Mervyn Sharp Bennion served in the United States Navy and was the Captain of the U.S.S. Virginia at Pearl Harbor. He was serving aboard his ship on the morning of December 7, 1941, and was killed during the attack trying to save his crew and ship. Captain Bennion earned the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for his sacrifice at Pearl Harbor.

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Medal of Honor Citation

For conspicuous devotion to duty, extraordinary courage, and complete disregard of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, by Japanese forces on 7 December 1941. As Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. West Virginia, after being mortally wounded, Capt. Bennion evidenced apparent concern only in fighting and saving his ship, and strongly protested against being carried from the bridge.

Death at Pearl Harbor

07 Dec 1941
—Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

In command of the USS West Virginia at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bennion was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his dedication and for his refusal to be removed from the bridge after being wounded in the stomach by bomb shrapnel. An anonymous officer, in a statement later released by the navy, recounted that although seriously wounded, Bennion wouldn't let anyone move him to safety. Instead, he asked for constant updates on how the battle was going and had others make sure that all the other wounded were taken care of. He ordered that all men well enough be at their battle stations and as a result was alone when he died.